Cesc and Ade hit back as Eduardo completes 45 minutes…

“I am feeling very happy to have started my first game in 10 months. I hope I can do more and that next time will be better. I just felt something in my hamstring but in two weeks I will be alright.”
Bit annoying with the hamstring stuff, but we should still be able to see him in about 2 – 3 weeks on the bench in a Premier League game.
Talking about the Premier League…
Ade and Cesc have been talking about our league position. In response to what Rio had to say, Cesc was quite dismissive of his comments and Ade was keen to talk at the end of the season.
Ade said:

“For me as an Arsenal player I know how important it is. We know we are eight points behind and we have a chance to play them and close the gap. We have to keep focused. It is going to be an important game and I don’t have to say too much about it. The motivation will come from within ourselves. We need to show good character and a good personality to win the game.”

There is more from Cesc too, which was on Sky Sports News, but I can’t find a link to it.
Arsene’s been speaking too about the fact we’re still in the title race and also revealed something very interesting about William Gallas’ mental state:

“On a human level, what happened with Gallas is the most difficult thing that I have ever had to manage in my whole career. I have a lot of respect for him. He has been caught in media turmoil. Whatever he said or did, it was distorted. He is well balanced in his game again, but I am not sure in his mind if he is well-balanced again.”

Very strange to hear Arsene comment on his mind not being well balanced. I’m not sure what that means in terms of his future, but it is interesting to hear Arsene say that it was the most difficult thing. Surely Henry leaving or wanting to leave was harder.
Tomorrow will see the start of the 3 day build up to the Liverpool game.
Til then!]]>

< ![CDATA[Great to hear eduardo is back.
He's a player I really admire after he moved from Brazil to Croatia at 15 to play football at a higher level. He's a real worker and has a totally different style to our other strikers, much more of a poacher, which will be a great asset once he's back playing in the first team.
It's been so long I can't remember who be partnered well but seem to remember him having a great streak of games where he put away almost every chance and even played left wing in a couple of games.]]>

Pissed off

So Edu is back for real. Kieren must be excited about that. I wouldnt say if Zohaib thinks Eduardos comeback will salvage our season.

zaheer

hahahaha Eduardo is our Jesus!…

Debs

erm, not necessarily Zaheer. Don’t expect too much from him cos it’s still early days, but I understand where you’re coming from- his clinical finishing might just make the difference; his presence would be a breath of fresh air, and for all you know, it could be just what the doctor ordered! But yeah, no pressure on the dude, cos he still needs a bit more time…

Gooner Get Ya

< ![CDATA[Sounds like he will be back to premier league standard in no time. Welcome back Edu...we have missed you
Hopefully we will have a complete reversal of last season and have a strong second half of the season.]]>

paris

< ![CDATA[You’ll know about Eduardo’s contribution: solid, modest, and a couple of chances. It was just good to see him.
But whereas I expected the see an amazing display of through passing from the midfield for Eduardo to run onto, it didn’t happen. Ramsey had a bugger of a game for the most part, and Wilshere and Merida didn’t quite get it right until well into the second half.
Strangely the star of the show was Francis Coquelin, the defensive midfielder who played full back. He was quite exceptional - even more so because he was playing out of position.
Think of a player who was discovered playing in a lower league team in France, and you’ll think of a current full back - Coquelin comes from the same vintage. First time we saw him was in the first of the friendlies and he looked good then. Now he looks even better. You want a defensive midfielder for next season? Here’s one.]]>

devday

Can you believe Lassana Diarra is going to Real Madrid for £21m

Debs

yeah, if only we’d kept him, we’d be getting that money, and there’d be no doubt that we have money to spend in Jan. But yeah, it’s amazing! Well done to him though, and I hope he doesn’t become a regular bench-warmer like some ppl who left us in summer! lol

JDD

as soon as eduardo gets back in the first team we can say bye-bye to bendtner at last

< ![CDATA[Interesting team you have there Zohaib, I'd say let's keep to 4-4-2 with Denilson and Eduardo on the wings - we've got Walcott, Nasri, Rosikcy etc to come back - changing the formation wouldn't be viable long term!
We still have to wait a few weeks for Eduardo to come back properly though!]]>

Pissed off

< ![CDATA[Zohaib sure u like the return of Eduardo.He is a born poacher, knows the goal post even when backing it (West Ham).
But just a poacher is what he is, just a poacher.]]>

zohaib

< ![CDATA[yeah i kno i kno.
when nasri comes we'll have the midfield like this
cesc song nasri
and the same 3 in the attack. i just wana see wat it looks like on the pitch.]]>

zohaib

< ![CDATA[pissed off - you sound like you dont think eduardo's going to make a difference to the team.
?]]>

zohaib

as it is rosicky is a central midfielder. and walcott is a central striker. playing them in their proper positions can’t be worse than playing them on the wings.

Pissed off

I love Arsenal whenever Rosicky plays. His never say die attitude, the way he attacks and his general attitude is what I love in a team. And am sure we need that his attitude now.

when rosicky is fit i think it may take him a while to get back into the starting 11

Debs

< ![CDATA[what, JDD, you prefer Toure as a CM, in place of Denilson, Song or even Diaby? I'd say Toure interchangeable with gallas or djourou, cos I think he plays well with either of them.
When Walcott's back, where would he fit in? Who would you drop? Well I guess it's a good problem to have... more reasons not to expect any signings...]]>

Fabrez!

< ![CDATA[Eduardo will without a doubt make a large difference in the 1st team when he's fully back. I don't think that Kolo would make a bad holding midfielder to be perfectly honest. He can shoot from outside the 18 yrd box if needed and i think he will give Cesc that confidence to go forward. He's a good passer of the ball, is experienced (although not in that position) and is relatively quick. I don't think Zohaib is far off with that Kolo call. Plus he cud always ask his bro Yaya for advice...lol! Just kiddin! Even Yaya wud b a lovely addition to our set-up but i doubt that will ever happen.
My ideal side for now would be
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djourou Clichy
Denilson Fabregas Song Nasri
Ade VP
I'm thinkin Eduardo is interchangeable on the wings or in attack and we cud play a 4-1-3-2 with Toure has the holding midfield player behind Cesc...worth a try?]]>

Fabrez!

< ![CDATA[Eduardo will without a doubt make a large difference in the 1st team when he's fully back. I don't think that Kolo would make a bad holding midfielder to be perfectly honest. He can shoot from outside the 18 yrd box if needed and i think he will give Cesc that confidence to go forward. He's a good passer of the ball, is experienced (although not in that position) and is relatively quick. I don't think Zohaib is far off with that Kolo call. Plus he cud always ask his bro Yaya for advice...lol! Just kiddin! Even Yaya wud b a lovely addition to our set-up but i doubt that will ever happen.
My ideal side for now would be
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djourou Clichy
Denilson Fabregas Song Nasri
Ade VP
I'm thinkin Eduardo is interchangeable on the wings or in attack and we cud play a 4-1-3-2 with Toure has the holding midfield player behind Cesc...worth a try?]]>

Fabrez!

Sry about the same comment twice…not too sure how that happened!

Debs

< ![CDATA[I could see Toure as a holding midfielder actually, but nothing more than that in midfield, cos that'll just be utterly ridiculous, considering as he's a defender, not a playmaker. But then I doubt Wenger would play a holding midfielder in every game- it'd depend on the opposition I guess...
I guess you guys are assuming Eboue and Bendtner both leave in Jan?]]>

Fabrez!

Well i don’t mind selling them if we are actually sure sure sure to bring in 2 proper replacements…cuz a smaller squad and with Arsenal’s fortune…we cud be down to “bare bones” if we don’t replace who we sell.

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